"Become Hokage?" Neji stopped in his tracks and gave a mocking smile. Then he looked around at the audience and said loudly, "Don't you know that who can become Hokage has already been decided? No matter how hard most people try, they'll never make it that far."
His words immediately set the stands buzzing with whispered conversations and discussion.
Even Hiruzen couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
"Are you saying you're the one who can become Hokage? Talent doesn't decide everything!" Naruto had completely missed Neji's unspoken meaning.
"No, of course I can't become Hokage. My fate was decided the moment I was born. No matter how hard I try, I'll never become Hokage."
"..." Naruto was stunned, unsure how to respond.
"Naruto, do you know how extravagant your dream is to someone like me?" Neji sounded as though he were mocking himself, yet also a little envious. His tone was a jumble of emotions.
"Don't act like you know everything and make conclusions like that. You can't become Hokage because you don't dare to have a dream like mine!" Naruto shouted back.
"Then ask everyone here. Who believes the Leaf Village would let someone like me become Hokage? Who dares to say so?"
The moment he said that, silence fell.
Naruto looked around, as if afraid his resolve might waver. Then he charged at Neji without a second thought, swinging his fists wildly with all his might.
Neji could dodge that utterly unstructured Turtle Fist Style even with his eyes closed. He didn't even counterattack, only continuing to say what he wanted to say.
"Naruto, you're far too naive. Branch House members like me have to obey the Main House's orders unconditionally from childhood. So no matter how talented I am or how outstandingly I perform, no one would choose me to become Hokage. Because then the Leaf Village would belong to the Hyuga Clan, rather than to everyone."
Anyone who knew a little about the Hyuga Clan's situation agreed with Neji. The Leaf Village would never choose someone from the Hyuga Branch Family as Hokage. Doing so would only draw opposition from every Leaf Village shinobi clan outside the Hyuga Clan.
No, even the Hyuga Clan's Main House probably wouldn't want to see a "slave" rise above them, even if only in name.
Just then, Naruto suddenly split into two people, attacking simultaneously from the front and behind. Neji's attention had been focused on the audience's reaction, and by the time he came back to himself, he could only respond in haste, striking at the one in front.
Thud!
He was wrong. It was a Shadow Clone!
Naruto slammed a fist into the back of his head.
"You could just disobey their orders! Don't you know how to fight back?" Having landed his blow, Naruto finally calmed down. He stood there panting.
Neji turned around. The attack had loosened the band holding his Forehead Protector in place, and it slipped down from his forehead, revealing an X-shaped Cursed Seal.
Everyone on the stands stared wide-eyed, transfixed.
It was their first time seeing the Caged Bird Seal.
Chapter 64: The Fate of the Hyuga Branch Family
Every Hyuga Branch Family member regarded the mark as a disgrace and refused to show it in front of outsiders, so it was rarely seen.
They hadn't expected to see it today, especially on a rising young genius. They'd have plenty to talk about over tea when they got home.
As for the things Neji had said, they barely stirred a ripple in their hearts. What did it matter to them if the Hyuga Branch Family suffered?
"You said I should fight back?" Neji pointed at his forehead and spoke word by word. "Do you know what this is? It's the Caged Bird Seal. I was designated a member of the Hyuga Branch Family the moment I was born, and this seal, which can never be removed, was placed on me when I was four. From then on, the Main House of the Hyuga Clan held my life and death in their hands!"
Neji didn't cover the seal. Instead, he raised his head, deliberately making sure everyone could see it clearly.
Wasn't he ashamed?
No. He was simply enduring it. This step had been part of his plan from the beginning.
As he spoke, he pointed toward the Hyuga Clan head, Hyuga Hiashi, seated in the stands. At that moment, everyone's gaze shifted to Hiashi.
Wasn't the Caged Bird supposed to be a seal that prevented enemies from stealing information about the Byakugan?
Wasn't it supposed to protect Branch House members from being targeted on the battlefield?
Why was Neji's version so different from what they'd been told?
Hiashi's expression didn't change, as if he didn't care that everyone was pointing fingers at him.
Was Neji saying all this to explain things to Naruto?
Of course not.
He only wanted to expose the Hyuga Clan's ugly side for all to see, in such a public setting, and win a new beginning for the Branch House!
Come on!
Hyuga Hiashi!
Activate your damned seal!
Make me wish I were dead!
After I've defied you so openly, shouldn't you be furious?
Let everyone see how the Main House exploits the Branch House, and just how vicious the Caged Bird is!
When the whole world knows about this, will you still be able to withstand the pressure and continue enslaving the Branch House under everyone's condemnation?
If I can change the fate of the Branch House, I, Neji, would gladly trade my life for it!
"I... I don't know what kind of conflict there is between your Branch House and Main House. I only wanted to stand up for Hinata. I won't let you call her a burden! You bastard!"
Naruto realized he didn't have a leg to stand on when it came to the Hokage issue, so he immediately changed the subject.
Neji looked at Naruto without expression. After a long while, he finally spoke calmly.
"All right. It seems you don't know much about the Hyuga Clan. In that case, I'll tell you all about the Hyuga Clan's loathsome fate."
Then, in an unusually calm voice, he began telling the story of what had happened to his father, Hizashi Hyuga. He told them what had happened on Hinata's birthday, and how Hiashi had used their identical appearance to make his younger brother take responsibility for his crime and die in his place.
When he reached the part about how Hiashi had used the Cursed Seal to torment his father for showing Hinata a disrespectful expression, tears streamed down his face. Countless people in the audience were moved.
Of course, most of them simply wanted to hear the Hyuga Clan's gossip. They didn't feel much empathy for Neji's suffering.
You were born into the Hyuga Clan. You've never had to worry about food or clothing. Why should I feel sorry for you?
How melodramatic!
As for the rich and powerful, they might have looked teary-eyed, as though they were full of sympathy, but they'd probably forget all about it as soon as they turned away and use it as a topic of conversation over tea.
"The Caged Bird can control not only a person's life and death, but also our Byakugan. That means the Branch House can never rebel against the Main House. From the day the Caged Bird was placed on me, my fate was decided! If I have to spend my whole life following a fate that's already been set, then how is that any different from being dead?"
It was a long while before Neji finished saying everything he'd wanted to say. He felt completely at ease, because he'd achieved his goal.
Unfortunately, Hiashi didn't seem willing to kill this rebellious nephew in front of everyone. Not being able to give his life for the cause was the one flaw in an otherwise perfect plan.
His gaze moved toward the people sitting in the stands, and faint disappointment showed in his eyes. The scene he wanted to see hadn't come to pass. It seemed no one cared about the Branch House's feelings.
Then he looked toward Keiichi. You could have won this bet. If I'd died, Naruto would have won, and your prediction would have come true.
Since I'm still alive, you're the one who lost after all.
What a pity.
"I don't know how painful it is to lose your father, but you're completely wrong to blame everything on fate!" Naruto still refused to admit defeat.
"Ha. You really are stubborn." Neji shook his head, but wasn't especially angry.
His true opponent had never been Naruto. It was the sinful family behind Naruto. All he wanted was to expose every ugly truth to the world.
Of course, he wasn't going to admit defeat to Naruto, either. He'd controlled the pace of this battle from start to finish. Naruto simply hadn't realized it.
Having said everything he wanted to say, Neji decided not to waste any more time. He took the initiative and attacked Naruto, intent on ending this pointless fight.
In just a few moments, Naruto was already struggling to defend himself against Neji's relentless onslaught. His fundamentals were far too poor. Even when competing with Neji in the area he was best at, he was still no match for him.
He might have had an advantage in chakra, but every time Neji struck one of his chakra points, some of the chakra he'd gathered dissipated. That slim chance of winning dwindled with it.
"After all that talking, I think you've just given in to fate! Let me tell you, I've never been the type to give in to fate. I'm going to beat you and prove it to you!"
Covered in blood, Naruto got back to his feet once again. He pointed shakily at Neji and declared his resolve.
Neji looked at him coldly. Perhaps Naruto had the means to defy fate. Though he had nothing, he was free in both body and mind.
But tell me, how is Neji Hyuga, trapped in a cage, supposed to fight back?
"That's enough. If you still don't surrender, I might lose control of my strength next time. It wouldn't be good if I accidentally killed you." Neji took his starting stance, ready to win with the most beautiful technique.
On the other side, Naruto had already reached the end of his rope. He had no chakra left to squeeze out, and the blood loss had drained his strength.
He was staggering even without Neji attacking him, his body held upright by sheer force of will.
The warning signals from Naruto's body awakened the Nine-Tails sleeping within him. A single hair detached itself from its body and turned into a wisp of Tailed Beast Chakra, which flowed into Naruto.
I'm not helping you. If you die, brat, I won't have anywhere to sleep...
Chapter 65: Cage Confrontation (Part 1)
Naruto was desperately squeezing out the last bit of his chakra, but how could he do that when all his chakra points had been blocked?
Just then, he suddenly felt a strange power flow into his abdomen before coursing through his chakra network. The blocked chakra points burst open one after another, and he gathered new chakra with ease.
He knew this feeling all too well. Wasn't this what it had been like when he practiced using the Shadow Clone training method?
Thanks, Stinky Fox!
From Neji's Byakugan perspective, he was astonished to see chakra that clearly didn't belong to Naruto surging through his body and rapidly spreading throughout his chakra network.
The intense, sinister aura it contained seemed to take the shape of a terrifying beast in midair, making Neji break out in a cold sweat.
What was going on?
It was almost as if Naruto had become a different person!
The sight drew countless gasps from the audience. Just when everyone had thought Neji was sure to win, Naruto suddenly erupted with a terrifying aura that made their blood run cold.
Then Naruto moved, his speed like that of someone using the Eight Inner Gates. Even Neji couldn't keep up with his rhythm for a moment.
Neji had only ever seen the Byakugan fail to keep up with someone's movements once before: his teacher, Might Guy.
"Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin!"
All he could do was use this absolute defense technique again and again to fend off Naruto's relentless attacks.
"It doesn't matter whether you're from the Main House or the Branch House! If you can't change the Hyuga Clan's fate, then I'll do it for you—when I become Hokage!"
Their exchange ended in a single move. Naruto remained standing, while Neji had already fallen. He no longer had the strength to use Rotation.
He stared up at the blue sky and white clouds, Naruto's words echoing in his mind. More importantly, at that moment, he suddenly understood a great many things.
Heh, Naruto...
Naruto of the Uzumaki Clan...
So that's how it is...
Now I understand everything...
He turned his gaze toward where Keiichi was sitting. So this was all part of your plan?
What are you going to say to me next?
His chakra had run dry, and he no longer had the strength to stand. He could only let his consciousness slowly fade.
"Winner: Naruto Uzumaki!"
The whole arena erupted in cheers.
Was there any story better than a weakling making a last-minute comeback?
Everyone loved it.
When Neji awoke in the emergency room, he saw someone sitting beside his bed whom he'd never expected to see.
Hyuga Hiashi.
The enemy he hated with all his heart.
Yet the moment Hiashi saw Neji wake up, he immediately began to kneel.
"There were too many people outside just now. Now I have to apologize to you, Neji."
"Apologize?"
"Yes, Neji. But I'm also here to tell you what really happened."
Then Hiashi began to explain the truth about that year. He told Neji that Hizashi had willingly chosen to die in his place, and that he himself had been filled with regret all these years, and so on...
Before you continue